Tag Archives: Romans 8:28

How Can We Know For Sure?

how can we know for sure

Photograph courtesy of Martin Watson

How can we know for sure? What is your standard that guides your life?

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

How can we know for sure?  That is a broad question I know, but when it comes to discerning what is the absolute best for us, it encompasses virtually everything we do in life.  We make decisions constantly throughout each day.  Obviously, some are more important than others and they impact our lives in varying ways.  I do believe, however, that we all have some standard, an absolute foundation, upon which we base our decisions.  In fact, that standard is what guides us…period.

I remember how, as a young child attending Sunday School classes at church, I loved listening to all of the stories that were read to us from the Bible.  My mind would instantly fill up with vividly colored images of the people and places that were described in detail inside its pages.  Sometimes the words seemed to come to life as the characters acted out their parts on my private stage.  Although I could never really truly envision what God actually looked like, He was always there in each story guiding and instructing, protecting and providing for the Bible characters.  No matter how each story began, or what happened in between, I always knew that God would make everything work out well in the end.

Now, more than ever, there is nothing of greater importance than knowing what God’s will and purpose is of me.  For without His guidance and presence in my life well, I truly have no life!  When it comes to making decisions, or doing anything really, my foundation and standard for living is based on His Word, the Bible…it sustains me with life-giving hope.  Unlike when I was a little girl listening to the Bible stories, I don’t know what is going to happen “in between” my own life story.  Many things have happened thus far that I truly had no idea would.  But I can honestly say with confidence, that I know for sure, that God will make it all work out beautifully.

How do you know for sure?  What is your standard that guides your life?  If you haven’t an answer…I can assure you, the Bible is a good place to start.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Be Careful What You Ask For

be careful what you ask for

“An Open Door,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

 

Be careful what you ask for…the power of prayer is real…when you ask, be prepared to receive!

“Be careful what you ask for.”  I’ve heard that phrase many times before and disregarded it as just another cliche.  Lately, however, I have a much different attitude towards it…now, I surely believe it to be true!  When we ask for something fervently, diligently seeking the Lord’s will in what we are asking for, the answer he gives may not always be what we’ve expected.  In fact, the answer can sometimes seem like the opposite of what we’ve asked for.  Well, I am here to tell you that the answer is always the best one when it is God who does the answering.

I have never known this truth in a more real sense until recently, when my dear husband was diagnosed with tonsilar cancer several months ago.  Of course, my prayer all along has been that God would heal my husband of this awful disease and restore him to complete health.  At the same time, and only by God’s grace and strength, I have also asked that his will be done; for I know that in all circumstances “…God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

We can never know what we will face in life; as we live each day the troubles and blessings unfold to shape our own story.  Our wants and needs all change to some degree, but we have expectations that they will be fulfilled, preferably in the way that we plan for them to.  That is the crux of what I want to convey here…when we ask God to fulfill our needs, we know in faith that he will answer us.  It is not so much that one needs to “be careful what you ask for,” but rather, “be careful how you accept what you’ve been given.”

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7

For me, asking for my husband’s healing has opened up a multitude of answers from God that are not exactly what I’ve asked for, he has not been healed, but the answers are blessings nonetheless.  In fact, I can honestly say that I feel privileged to have had to face and experience this trial.  You see, when I am going through dark times such as this, that is when my focus is on God, and it is then that I can fully understand and accept with open arms all of the good that he is doing in my life.

Be careful what you ask for?  No need, because when God does the answering it’s all good!

Peace to you,

Felecia

 

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